Put High Point council on TV
Thursday's No. 2 editorial
High Point City Council candidates were unanimous when answering one question at a Guilford County Unity Effort forum last week: Meetings should be televised.
They’re right, and those elected Nov. 4 should make sure it happens.
Guilford County commissioners, the school board and Greensboro City Council put their meetings on public-access cable, and High Point ought to catch up.
Few constituents attend meetings in person, but nearly everyone would find it more convenient and comfortable to watch from home. Television promotes greater access to and understanding of local government, which likely would lead to broader participation.
The candidates in Ward 2 see it that way. Televised meetings would allow transparency and inclusiveness, Foster Douglas said. It would help hold elected leaders accountable, Tony Davis said. There should be nothing to hide, Jerry Mingo added. Pride Grimm and Julius Clark concurred.
The only small disagreement surfaced between Ward 6 contenders James Corey and John Faircloth. Corey said some personnel matters might be too sensitive to show on television.
Faircloth countered that anything conducted in a public meeting is suitable for television.
This issue has been discussed in High Point before but tabled because of cost, Mayor Becky Smothers said. She’s running for re-election unopposed. The council chambers need “upfitting” to accommodate live television transmissions, she explained.
“I don’t think there’s any objection other than the cost. ... It’s like anything. All it takes is money,” she said.
Yet, county commissioners will spend money to televise their meeting today in the High Point City Council chamber. Although a live broadcast isn’t possible, the meeting will be taped and shown as promptly as possible, the board’s clerk, Effie Varitimidis, said last week. Not doing so is unthinkable: “The public demands so much these days,” she said.
It should. And, in return, the public should be willing to pay the price of opening government to more viewers.
Comments (1)
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thanks for having this as a #2 editorial, the question was asked by the moderator of triadwatch. I hope the city council of High Point takes this seriously because it is a shame that there isn't any televised meetings of their meetings. THis is especially troubling in that the Guilford County Commissioners will be in High Point tonight and will film the meeting and post it on their web site for all to see. It was great to come out with this on the day they are taping the meeting in High Point. It will be brought up again and again. Till this happens.
Posted on October 2, 2008 4:12 PM